As we were given the tour of Batey Nueve, Village #9, and as we helped feed the children at lunchtime, I had to wonder what they felt about all of us 'Americanos' looking at their neighborhood, their homes, their children, and taking pictures. I probably would have taken more photos than I did if I hadn't felt a little uncomfortable with it.
The kids didn't think twice...they wanted to be photographed and then they wanted to see their photo on our digital camera screen! For some reason, many of them wanted to suck their thumbs for the photo! Maybe that's their way of being silly, I don't know. They would have posed for hours in front of the batey store if we had let them!
But the adults...were we making them feel like they were a spectacle for us to photograph? Did they feel like we were in shock or disbelief at what we saw on their streets, in their yards?
Think about standing in your doorway with your child and having a group of people come walking by snapping pictures of you. What would you feel like? I'm guessing I'd feel uncomfortable...and I hoped our group was not making anyone feel that way.
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